The Ultimate Seven Sisters Collection

by M. L. Bullock

  “I’ll take one,” Ashland piped up. “I guess that means you’re driving,” he said to Carrie Jo.

  Carrie Jo smiled. “I think I can handle that.”

  “You don’t want even a small glass? I use a brown sugar base. It’s delicious.”

  “I have no doubt about that, Henri, but I’m still going to have to pass.” The smile on her face told me she wasn’t telling me something. She looked at Ashland and said, “Can I tell him?” Her husband nodded, and she smiled even bigger. “Ashland and I are going to be parents.”

  “Really? That is the best news I’ve heard in a long time. Congratulations, you two. When is the baby due to arrive?”

  “Sometime in May. My doctor says we’ll know for sure at the next appointment. I still can’t believe it—I’m going to be a mom!” Lenore congratulated them, and we celebrated with a toast. Lemonade for CJ and hurricanes for the rest of us.

  “And it’s going to be a boy. A boy that looks just like his daddy. A fine healthy young man.” Lenore wrapped her hands around her crossed knees and nodded confidently at the couple. Carrie Jo was too polite to say anything except thank you.

  “Well, whatever it is, boy or girl, we hope it’s just one. I don’t think I could handle twins. Especially if they were twin boys.”

  Lenore shook her head as if she had something to say, but I quickly changed the subject.

  “Have either of you spoken to Detra Ann recently?”

  “Not me. What about you, Ashland?”

  Ashland sipped his drink and shook his head. “She’s not returning my calls. I visited her mom recently, and she hasn’t seen much of her either. I was hoping you could give us some insight. What’s going on with her?”

  Lenore let out a little hiss, and I shot her a warning look. “We had dinner the other night. She brought me a little birthday gift—it was the key to the shop. She’s moving to Atlanta and leaving me Cotton City Treasures. Everything happened so fast I didn’t ask her too many questions because she seemed like she was in a hurry to leave. I’m worried about her.”

  “You should be. The girl is a shade—she’s a ghost already.”

  Carrie Jo set her lemonade on the table and turned to look at Lenore. “What do you mean, Lenore?”

  “I mean the girl has touched Death. She’s been in its presence, and it thinks it has a claim on her. It took her friends, and it should have taken her too, but somehow she resisted it. I can promise you that won’t last—Death will not be denied. I’m sorry for your friend, but it is the truth.”

  I tried to keep my voice level. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve asked you to stop talking about Detra Ann like that.”

  “It’s not my fault that you love a ghost, Henri, but I can’t lie. She’s marked, and she’ll pass on soon. And there ain’t nothing you can do about it. I am sorry, but it’s the honest-to-God truth.” She took a big swig of her drink and licked her lips. “I haven’t had one of these good drinks in a long time. Pour me another one.”

  Carrie Jo’s eyes were wide with fear. “You can’t be right about this. I don’t mean to be rude, but what are you basing your statement on? I don’t know if you know it or not, but we’ve been battling the supernatural here in Mobile for over a year and a half. We’ve seen our share of ghosts and we’ve beaten them—Detra Ann too. I don’t think you realize how strong she is. This can’t be true.”

  Lenore surprised us all by scooting closer to Carrie Jo and taking her hand in hers. She patted it and spoke to her in a soothing voice. “I am sorry that I offended you. I know something about battling the supernatural too. I guess Henri hasn’t told you that I’ve been doing it all my life. People think I’m crazy, and maybe that’s true, but there are patterns—laws that the supernatural world follows. Death is hard to escape, especially if it knows what you look like. I’m sure that your Detra Ann is a wonderful person, that she doesn’t deserve this, but that doesn’t change the fact that she is in danger. Big-time danger.”

  “If what you say is true, that Death will come for her, then it will come for me too because I was with her. We fought this together. I refuse to abandon her now.”

  “Maybe you should tell me exactly what happened. If you don’t mind. Don’t leave anything out. Even small things can help.”

  For the next hour, Ashland and Carrie Jo caught her up. I shared any relevant bits that they missed but otherwise kept quiet. I was learning a lot too. For example, I never knew about Carrie Jo’s dream about Jeremiah Cottonwood and his vicious whip. How unusual that she woke up with the stripe of his whip on her leg. Ashland told us about his first encounter with Isla, and Carrie Jo shared her first dream about Calpurnia Cottonwood. Then we talked about the Moonlight Garden, the treasure, the ghosts of Jeremiah and David Garrett. They told her about the loss of Bette and Terrence Dale, how they saw Hoyt Page and Delilah and Christine. By the end of it, she had more questions, and we answered them as best we could.

  “Well, it’s obvious that Mobile is a hot spot for the supernatural and that Seven Sisters seems to be ground zero. Everything that’s happened to you all has centered around that house. But first, let’s deal with the practical things.” Lenore took Carrie Jo’s hands and stared at them. “Hmm…I never was any good at that. Palm reading, I mean. Let me look into your eyes.” She didn’t wait to be invited. She grabbed Carrie Jo’s wrists and stared deep into her eyes. I almost said something, but Ashland gave me a reassuring look.

  Lenore continued, “I know what you say is true about the battle you and Detra Ann did, but she’s the shade—not you. No ghost in there. I see only you. As far as your dream catching goes, before you go to sleep at night, you have to put the baby to sleep.” Carrie Jo laughed, but Lenore pressed on. “Your little one is who is causing you to wander into your husband’s dreams. That little boy will have the same powers his mother does, and maybe some of his father’s too. He is already dreaming about you and his daddy. You know more than you think you do, Mrs. Stuart. You didn’t have any problems before this, did you? I mean, you could sleep with your husband and drift right off to sleep, right?”

  “Yes, that’s true.”

  “It’s the baby. He can’t control his powers—he doesn’t even understand that he has them and that he is special. For a good night’s sleep, eat something bland before bed, no sodas or sugar, and sing to him. Sing until he goes to sleep. Then you can sleep without worry.”

  Carrie Jo nodded uncertainly but then smiled. “It’s better than anything I’ve come up with. I will give it a try.”

  Then Lenore turned her attention to Ashland. “Start telling your wife the truth about the things you see. Like when you saw that man in the car window…”

  “I didn’t tell anyone about that.” Ashland seemed surprised, and pink rose under his tanned skin.

  “It’s written on your face. You need to tell her, and you two have to work as a team. I don’t know what you have going in your life, but you need to make room for your gift—stop being ashamed of it. It’s not going away, and it is only going to get stronger, so be prepared for that. Ask God to help you.”

  “How do I do that?” He looked confused.

  “That’s up to you. Go out on your boat and reconnect with Him. He’ll help you. He will, I promise.”

  “So there’s no way to make this stop?”

  She shook her head emphatically.

  “Do I talk to these things or what?”

  “You can try, but I doubt they will say anything coherent—just look at what they look at. Pay attention to details. You won’t be able to help all of them, but you may be able to help some of them find their rest. I don’t have all the answers, but I know pretending it’s not happening is not a strategy that works.” She touched his cheek, and he didn’t back away. “One more thing, Ashland…”

  “Yes. What is it?”

  “You don’t know it all yet. There’s something you haven’t figured out. You haven’t seen the complete truth, the whole truth, th
e so-help-you-God truth yet. Be prepared for it because the truth won’t be denied.”

  She turned to me with sad eyes. “Now I come to you, Henri Devecheaux. It has been too long since you said her name. She wonders why you do not pray for her, talk to her, look for her. I feel her around this place. Can you see her, Ashland?”

  “Not yet, but I sense that someone is very near to Henri.” He stared behind me and then shook his head. “No, she’s gone.”

  “That’s because you haven’t been looking for her.” It was more than a statement. It was an accusation. I felt ashamed and angry that she would bring up this subject right now. “You have to find her, Henri. Find her and bring her home so she can rest in peace. When you do, you’ll have peace yourself.”

  I stood up and glared at Lenore. “What if I don’t want to know what happened? What good will it do? That was over twenty years ago, Lenore. Am I supposed to spend every day of my life looking for her? I loved her, but she’s gone now and I have to let her go—so do you. You have to! I have to! I’ll go crazy if I think about it. Is that what you want? Me talking crazy, locked up somewhere?”

  “Aleezabeth! Aleezabeth! Can’t you even say her name? Quit calling her ‘she’ and ‘her.’ She was a living, breathing person—someone you loved!”

  “Fine! Aleezabeth! Are you happy?”

  Ashland waved his hand. “Um, guys. You said to start sharing. You have a visitor. Tall, olive-skinned girl with long brown hair, a pink skirt, pink knee socks and some kind of white school shirt. She’s in the corner of the room. She’s barely there.” He pointed toward the fireplace as if he were pointing at a clock or a picture, not a ghost. “Can you see her?”

  “No, I can’t,” I said sharply, suddenly afraid.

  “Say something to her, Henri.” Lenore stood beside me and faced the fireplace.

  “I didn’t know this would happen. I did not mean for this to happen. I should have stayed with you…” My voice broke, and my heart felt like a rock. “I should have stayed with you. I am sorry, Aleezabeth.” I sat on the couch and leaned across the arm, crying. Lenore stared at the corner of the room as if she could see her, and perhaps she could. I could not, but I did feel better.

  Ashland gave me a sad smile. “She’s gone. I guess that was all she needed to hear—at least for now. I am sorry, Henri. I never knew that you lost someone like that.”

  I rubbed my eyes with a tissue that Carrie Jo stuffed in my hand. I took a big swig of my hurricane and said, “It isn’t something I like to think about too much. I have a life now. I want to keep moving forward, not backward.”

  He nodded. “I am living proof that sometimes you have to look back to move forward.”

  Someone knocked on the front door, and I excused myself to answer it. I heard a pretty voice on the front porch and recognized it right away—it was Detra Ann. “Avon calling. Are y’all having a party without me?” I opened it, and she nearly fell inside laughing. It was immediately apparent that she was at least three sheets to the wind. “You know, you really would make a lousy boyfriend. You don’t call, you don’t come over. That’s pretty lousy, Henri.” She stumbled into the living room, her red high heels in her hand. “Hey, everyone. I know y’all. Except you. I don’t know you—but hey anyway! What are we celebrating? Ooh…are those hurricanes?”

  Lenore stepped backward, never taking her eyes off Detra Ann, until she left the room completely.

  “Was it something I said?”

  “No, that’s just Lenore. I don’t think you need any hurricanes, Detra Ann. How about some coffee?”

  “Whatever you say, doctor.” She kissed me on the cheek. I could smell bourbon—it must have been tonight’s choice at the bar. “Call me doc-tor love…” she sang off-key and loudly.

  “Where have you been tonight, Detra Ann?” I heard Ashland ask as I made a quick pot of coffee.

  “Dancing, drinking and saying goodbye to Mobile. I am going to miss this place and all of you. I love y’all, but I have to go.” I could hear the stress in her voice now. “I can’t stay here, or something bad will happen. I can feel it. You wouldn’t understand. I know I should have told you sooner, but my heart couldn’t handle it. Yep, my heart…I love you all.” Then she began to sing again, “I can feel your heart beat—the heart of love…. Hey! Wasn’t that one of your favorite songs, Carrie Jo? That guy William could sing—the band covered all his songs. But don’t tell Ashland—I don’t think he’d like hearing that too much.” I cringed as she rambled on, oblivious to the fact that Ashland was sitting right there. “Hey, where did that girl go? Is that the mysterious cousin—is that your cousin, Henri? I don’t think she likes me too much.”

  “Do you want cream and sugar?” I called to her from the kitchen.

  “I want bourbon!”

  “You aren’t getting any,” I replied, shaking my head. At least now I didn’t have to explain her drinking problem to Carrie Jo and Ashland. Lenore was right, I sure could pick them. But I couldn’t help loving Detra Ann. I poured some of the hot chicory coffee in a stoneware mug, walked into the living room and handed it to her. She thanked me with a pout.

  “Ow, that’s hot.”

  Carrie Jo was staring at Ashland. I looked too and saw his face was as white as a sheet. He stared at the front door, and my arms began to feel cold and clammy.

  “What is it, Ash?” she whispered.

  “I am not sure, but come get behind me. The whole doorway is full of blackness—it’s crawling all over the doorframe. Can anyone else see it?”

  We all looked, except Detra Ann, who was slow to comprehend the increasing danger. She just stared at us. “What?”

  “I can’t see it, but I can feel something,” I confessed. I sat next to Detra Ann and put my arm around her protectively. Lenore was long gone. Yeah, battling the supernatural. Right. More like running from it.

  “Carrie Jo, Ashland is right. You need to get behind him—better still, go down the hall.” Suddenly frightened, Carrie Jo got to her feet in a flash and would have pulled Detra Ann with her, but I stopped her. “No, leave her with us. We can’t risk it following her. We’ll stay with her. You go!”

  I heard Lenore whisper to her, and Carrie Jo disappeared.

  Ashland spoke in a low voice. “That’s nothing I have ever seen before, Henri. It’s a shape now and he’s tall, taller than anyone I have ever known and completely inky black. Oh my God! Do you feel that? It’s like all the oxygen just left the room. I think Lenore is right—this is Death we are dealing with.”

  Detra Ann sobered in an instant. She put down the cup of coffee and clung to me.

  “You feel it too? I’m not crazy then?”

  “No, you’re not. What do we do, Henri? Should I say something?”

  “Say nothing,” I whispered fiercely. “Be still and pray, both of you. Close your eyes and pray right now!” We did just that. Detra Ann whispered some words, Ashland said the Lord’s Prayer aloud, and I poured out my heart to heaven. “God please, protect the woman I love and my friends. She cannot leave yet. Her time is not up. Please, if you have to take someone, take me.” My eyes wanted to open, and it was a struggle to keep them closed, but I kept praying, probably louder than I intended. Soon the room felt different. The ominous presence vanished, and the air felt alive again. One by one we opened our eyes. Ashland told us the shape had disappeared. With shaking hands, Detra Ann picked up her coffee. When she realized her hands were too shaky to do her any good, she set it back down on the table.

  “It doesn’t matter where I go, does it? It is going to follow me. It wants me, I know it. Am I going to die, Henri?”

  “We are going to fight, Detra Ann. You won’t die—I will be with you the whole time. I swear.”

  “Can I stay with you?”

  “Of course you can.” She put her arms around me, and for the first time ever I kissed her. A real kiss, not a friendly, can-I-be-your-pal kiss. She didn’t run away or laugh in my face. She kissed me back. I had never been so terr
ified and so happy in such a short space of time.

  That was the moment Lenore chose to step out of the hallway. “Well if she’s staying here, I’m leaving. I can’t stay with a ghost.”

  “That’s fine with me, Lenore. I didn’t ask you to move in.”

  Detra Ann laughed. “I am not a ghost. I was just drunk, that’s all. I am sorry you had to see me like that.”

  “It ain’t the booze, sister—it’s the specter following you around. He ain’t fixin’ to grab me. No way, no how.” She crossed her arms stubbornly and stared at me with a perfectly arched eyebrow.

  Carrie Jo said sweetly, “Lenore, you can stay with Ashland and me. We have a guest room. I’d like to have you around—maybe you can help us learn what we need to know.” I could almost hear her say, “And Henri and Detra Ann could have some time to catch up.” She smiled at Ashland, who nodded in agreement.

  “Okay, then. Let me get my stuff. Be right back.” Lenore left only to return a minute later. “This is it. I don’t have much.”

  “That’s great. Well, thank you for the drinks, Henri. I think we’ll be going home now. Let’s talk in the morning. We have to come up with some sort of plan.”

  Lenore waited on the porch, still refusing to stay in the room with Detra Ann. I hoped she behaved herself during her stay with the Stuarts. With Lenore, anything was possible. And I hadn’t forgotten her mysterious phone call.

  I found one…

  Chapter 11—Carrie Jo

  By the time we made it home I realized how impulsive I had been inviting a complete stranger into our home. But I soothed my nervousness by reminding myself that it was for Henri and Detra Ann. I had privately been rooting for them, and it just made sense to see them get together now. Nobody could ever take Terrence Dale’s place, but I couldn’t help but believe he would want Detra Ann to be happy. Hopefully Ashland agreed with me; he had to see how good she and Henri could be for one another.